Tilt of atomic force microscope cantilevers: effect on spring constant and adhesion measurements

In atomic force microscopy, the cantilevers are mounted under a certain tilt angle alpha with respect to the sample surface. In this paper, we show that this increases the effective spring constant by typically 10-20%. The effective spring constant of a rectangular cantilever of length L can be obtained by dividing the measured spring constant by cos2 alpha(1 - 2D tan alpha/L). Here, alpha is the tilt angle and D is the size of the tip. In colloidal probe experiments, D has to be replaced by the radius of the attached particle. To determine the effect of tilt experimentally, the adhesion force between spherical borosilicate particles and planar silicon oxide surfaces was measured at tilt angles between 0 degrees and 35 degrees. The experiments revealed a significant decrease of the mean apparent adhesion force with a tilt of typically 20-30% at alpha = 20 degrees. In addition, they demonstrate that the adhesion depends drastically on the precise position of contact on the particle surface.     

Carbon-nitrogen bond formation in the reaction of the reaction of diphenyl diazomethane Ph2 CN2 with diiron-carbene complexes (Fe2(CO)7x03BD;-C(R)C(NEt2)x03BD;-C(R)C(NEtx03BC;-C(R)C(NEt2)N(NCPh2)x03BC;-C(R)C(NEtx03BC;-C(R)C(NEt2)NN(CPh2)x03BC;-C(R)C(NEt)]

The diiron ynamine complex [Fe₂(CO)₇{μ-CR)C(NEt₂)}] (1:R=Me,2:R = C₃H₅.3:R=SiMe₃.4:R = Ph) reacts at room temperature with diphenyldiazomethane Ph₂CN₂, in hexane to yield complexes [Fe₂(CO)₆{C(R)C(NEt₂)N (NCPh₂)] (5a:R=Me,6a:R=C₃H₅.7a R=SiMe₃.8a:R=Ph) resulting from the insertion of the terminal nitrogen atom into the Fe=C carbene bond. Insertion the second nitrogen atom and formation of compounds [Fe₂(CO)₆zμ-C(R)C(NEt₂)NN(CPh₂)}] (5b:R=Me,6b:R=C₃H₅,7b:R=SiMe₃,8b:R=Ph) is observed when compounds5a-5a are treated in refluxing hexane. Transformation of compoundsa tob is also obtained at room temperature within a few days. All compounds were identified by their¹H NMR spectra. Compounds6a, 7a, 8a, and8b were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Crystal data: for6a: space group = P2₁/n,a=12.853(1) A,b=24.800(7) A,c=8.947(6) A,β=99.29(3)°,Z=4, 2227 rellectionsR=0,038; for7a: space group=Pl,a=ll.483(4) A,b=14.975(4) A,c = 17.890(8) A,α = 82.80(3)°,β=94.29(7)°,γ=85.42(2),Z = 4, 5888 reflectionR = 0.035: for8a: space group = Pcab.a = 31.023(8) A.b=20.137(1) A.c=9.686(2) A.Z=8. 1651 reflections,R=0.071; for8b: space group=P2₁/n,a=21.459(4),b=10,100(3) A,c=28,439(8) A,ß=103.86(4)°,Z=8. 2431 reflections.R=0.057.     

Coupling insertion reactions of diphenylbuta-1, 4-diyne into iron-carbene bonds of [Fe2(CO)7{μ-C(Ph)C(NEt2}]. Syntheses and reactivities of the ferracyclopentadiene [Fe2(CO)6{C(Ph)C(NEt2)C(Ph)C(C2Ph)}] with [Fe2(CO)9]

The diiron ynamine complex [Fe₂(CO)₇{-C(Ph)C(NEt₂)}] (1) reacts with the diphenylbuta-1, 4-diyne, PhCC-CCPh, in refluxing hexane to yield three isomer complexes [Fe₂(CO)₆{C(Ph)C(NEt₂)C(Ph)C(C₂Ph}] (2a), [Fe₂(CO)₆{C(Ph)C(NEt₂)C(C₂Ph)C(Ph)}] (2b), and [Fe₂(CO)₆{NEt₂)C(Ph)C(C₂)C(Ph)}] (2c) All three compounds were identified by their¹H NMR spectra. Compounds2a and2c were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Crystal data: for2a: space group = P2₁/n,a = 17.873(1) Å, = 18.388(6) Å,c = 9.429(3) Å = 91.99(3)°,Z = 4.3751 reflections,R = 0.044; for2c: space group = P2₁/n,a = 40.58(2) å,b = 12.101(9) Å,c = 12.551(5) Å, = 94.29(7)°,Z = 8.4723 reflection,R = 0.076. Complexes2a and2b result from a [2 + 2] cycloaddition between one of the CC triple bonds of the diyne ligand and the FeC carbene bond, whereas2c results from insertion of one of the CC group into the bridging carbene. Addition of [Fe₂(CO)₉] on2a gave two major products, the tripledecker [Fe₃(CO)₈{C(Ph)C(NEt₂)C(C₂Ph)}], (3 and a tetrairon cluster [Fe₄(CO)₁₁{C(Ph)C(NEt₂)C(Ph)C(C₂Ph)}] (4). Both compounds were characterized by single crystal diffraction analyses. Crystal data: for3: space group = P2₁/n,a = 12.039(3) Å,b = 18.046(3) å,c = 15.270(2) Å, = 90.11(2)°,Z = 4, 1430 reflections,R = 0.067; for4 space group = C2/c,a = 18.633(3) Å,b = 21.467(1)_Å,c = 20.742(2) Å, = 115.03(8)°,Z = 8.992 reflections, R = 0.076. Complex4 is based on a spiked triangular cluster with the alkynyl triple bond attached in ₃-parallel mode on the triangular grouping.     

Enrichment of hydrophobic proteins via Triton X-114 phase partitioning and hydroxyapatite column chromatography for mass spectrometry

Membrane proteins are the starting point of several signal transduction pathways. Therefore, the separation and identification of these proteins are of great interest in proteome analysis. However, the specific properties of membrane proteins seriously impede their analysis. We present an effective and highly reproducible method for the two-dimensional separation of extremely hydrophobic proteins and demonstrate the advantages of special preseparation procedures for the identification of proteins which have very similar Mr and p/. Using the example of the integral membrane protein very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor (NCBI Acc. # 1730111) and the soluble heat shock protein (HSP) 90 (NCBI Acc. # 386786) we present the applicability of a phase-separation system with Triton X-114. Using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) of the protein spots after 2-D separation of the hydrophilic and the strongly hydrophobic protein fraction of human endothelial cells (ECV cell line), we were able to distinguish both proteins.     

Electron tunneling into ion implanted PbMn and SnMn alloys

Tunnel junctions ofPb-I-Al andSn-I-Al were implanted at low temperatures with Mn ions in the ppm region. The tunnel characteristicdI/dV was measured on the pure sample and on the alloy with different concentrations. A bound state is found in both systems at an energy 0.7 ₀. Comparison with theory confirms, that the Kondo effect is not necessary for the existence of a bound state.     

Plasma Polymerization Inside Tubes in Hexamethyldisiloxanes and Ethyne Glow Discharges: Effects of Deposition Atmosphere on Wetting and Ageing in Solvents

The coating deposition inside tubes becomes increasingly important for fluidic applications, in which inner surfaces are chemically and mechanically strained by the flowing liquid and by scratching of particles. The developed process for tube coating, presented in this work, is based on the discharge in the precursor gas atmosphere between two mesh electrodes at the ends of the tube. The gas mixture is introduced on one end and pumped through the electrode on the other end. Igniting plasma inside the tube, the tube walls are the barrier to the atmosphere. Especially pulsed DC discharges for plasma polymerization in this alignment lead to good coating results, which is shown in this work focusing on deposition in pure and mixed hexamethyldisiloxane, ethyne, and oxygen atmospheres. Chemical binding, wetting, and ageing are strongly influenced by the choice of the gas mixtures. Sufficient oxygen partial pressure in the deposition atmosphere leads to hydrophilic behavior of the SiO₂-like polymer-like carbon coatings, all other applied atmospheres to generally hydrophobic behavior of pure and Si-doped plasma polymers, respectively.